Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT THIRD DIVISION G.R. No. 148407.

November 12, 2003

MA. LUISA OLARTE, doing business under the name and style, SUNACE

INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, petitioners, vs. LEOCADIA NAYONA, respondent. FACTS OF THE CASE: On April 8, 1998, Leocadia A. Nayona (herein respondent) executed a contract of employment as a domestic helper/caretaker with Sunace International Management Services (herein petitioner) for its Taiwan-based agency/employer Chung I Manpower Agency. Respondents employment covered a period of one (1) year or from May 22, 1998 to May 22, 1999. On May 22, 1998, respondent was deployed to Taiwan to work for Wu Dian Man with a monthly salary of New Taiwan $ 15,840.00. On June 11, 1998, Tseng Wen, the owner/manager of Chung I Manpower Agency pre-terminated respondents work assignment at Wu Dian Man, with an express promise of another employment. But Tseng Wen reneged on his commitment. Consequently, respondent was repatriated to the Philippines on June 13, 1998. Aggrieved, respondent, on August 18, 1998, filed with the Sub-Regional Arbitration Branch of Dagupan City a complaint for illegal dismissal, payment of salaries, refund of placement fee and other monetary claims against petitioners, docketed as SRB-OFW-01-07-8-0245-98. ISSUE: Whether or not petitioner committed a breach of contract with respect to the respondent? Whether or not petitioner is to be held liable in violation of R.A. 8042? HELD: In view of the foregoing facts, the Labor Arbiter rendered a decision in favor of the respondent applying R.A. 8042 in awarding damages. However, on appeal, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) rendered its

Decision affirming with modification the Arbiters Decision with respect to the monetary award. Unsatisfied, the petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration to the Court of Appeals. On May 31, 2001, the Court of Appeals issued a Resolution denying the respondents motion for reconsideration. Petitioners, in the instant petition for review on certiorari, vigorously assert that the Court of Appeals erred in interpreting Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8042[6] on the amount of the salary which should be awarded to an illegally dismissed overseas contract worker. WHEREFORE, the assailed Decision dated September 14, 2000 and Resolution dated May 31, 2001 of the Court of Appeals are hereby AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION in the sense that petitioner is ordered to pay respondent (NT) $47,520.00, or its peso equivalent, corresponding to her three (3) months salary, and to reimburse her placement fee of P23, 000.00, with legal interest of twelve percent (12%) per annum.